Great food at a small price

Published on 18 Apr 2018.

It’s easy to find affordable and good grub in Singapore. Here’s a list of places to eat in the city if you’re on the hunt for some wallet-friendly options.

Lau Pa Sat

For an endless array of local food options, there’s Lau Pat Sat. Situated in the Central Business District (CBD), this huge hawker centre has gained an iconic status as one of the city’s oldest markets. Wander through the food complex and you’ll find dishes like bak chor mee (minced pork noodles), fried carrot cake, nasi padang (rice with side dishes), chapati (Indian flatbread), and more. Outside Lau Pa Sat, on a street closed off at night, tuck into satay (grilled skewered meats) for dinner or supper.

Telok Ayer Market. 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582.
Daily 24 hours.

Wild Market

A quaint bistro located in the Bras Basah/Bugis district, Wild Market is plied with good food, draft beers (from S$6 upwards), and live music. Its air-conditioned hawker stalls purvey local classics like Ceylonese-style nasi briyani (an Indian spiced rice dish with meat or vegetables), bak chor mee (minced pork noodles), and a salted egg variant of fried carrot cake, all of which have been given two thumbs up by local foodies. Make new friends here over affordable drinks and delectable bar snacks, such as the chicken nanban (chicken fried in a crispy egg batter and dipped in a sweet and sour nanban sauce), or the umami-inducing mentaiko fries (fries served with a creamy sauce infused with a spicy pollock fish roe).

Gyoza-Ya

Chow down on all sorts of gyoza (Japanese dumplings filled with meat and vegetables) at this Japanese eatery located in the basement of Robinsons The Heeren. Gyoza-Ya serves up a variety of Japanese dumplings that come with different fillings, from pork to vegetable and even crabmeat. If you need something more substantial to go with these delicious morsels, you can order items like a salmon donburi (rice bowl dish) or a piping hot bowl of seafood ramen.

I Want My Noodle

The concept behind I Want My Noodle is straightforward. These guys specialise in egg noodles (freshly made every day, no less) that form the base of their popular creations like the 'My Noodle with Double Roast' (the roast being char siew [barbecued pork]). Other tempting plates to try include the homemade meatball soup and the flourless fried chicken wings, which are served with fiery sambal (Asian chilli paste).

5 Little Monkeys Cafe

Peranakan* food can be quite costly in Singapore, so if you want a taste of the real thing at half the price (or less), head to 5 Little Monkeys Cafe. This laid-back rooftop eating spot boasts menu highlights such as tender beef rendang (braised beef cooked in coconut milk and spices) and assam (tamarind) fish head curry that’s a perfect combination of sour, spicy and umami.

*The term is an Indonesian/Malay word that means “local born”, which generally refers to people of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage.

Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant

Lovers of Vietnamese fare, hit up Long Phung. This no-frills east-side haunt puts out authentic Vietnamese dishes such as belly-warming pho (chicken and beef are available), and sides like fried spring rolls, grilled quail and garlic cockles. Long Phung opens until 10.30pm.

The Good Beer Company

Photo by Danny Santos

There’s nothing like enjoying local food with a bottle of ice-cold beer. The Good Beer Company is a craft beer and cider stall that offers over 50 more-than-reasonably priced labels for you to choose from. The selection changes often, so it’d be wise to follow the stall on Facebook or call ahead to check if it has your favourite tipple in stock. Pair your brew of choice with dishes like satay (grilled skewered meat) and chicken wings from nearby stalls.